content warning: light smut in this chapter. stop reading after Isla takes her pills if you're not into that <3

The next day, I woke up to a loud knocking on the door. I turned on my stomach, pulling my pillow up around my ears. My alarm hadn't even gone off yet. The sun wasn't even up yet.

Knock, knock, knock.

It wouldn't stop. I groaned, squeezing my hands tighter around my head. I wasn't expecting anyone. It must have been someone from River's party last night—if it had even ended.

My head was already pounding with a hangover and this relentless knocking wasn't helping at all.

"River!" I shouted weakly, my throat sore from sleep and my voice muffled by my pillow.

Knock, knock, knock.

"River!"

There was a creak of the door beside my room and the quiet thudding of steps in the hallway, passing my door and moving to the living room.

I closed my eyes, letting myself drift back to sleep.

"Who the f—"

My eyes flew open. That sounded like—

"What are you—"

There was a loud thud, and I was out of my bed. I tripped over my blankets and bedsheets, stumbling across my room and to the door. I ripped my bedroom door open, slipping down the hallway until the front door came into view.

"Everett?" I mumbled.

His eyes snapped to me. His expression was angry, his eyes narrowed, and lips puckered in a sneer. And against the wall—his arm was pushed against Alistair's chest, his other hand hovering dangerously above his face. He had Alistair pinned.

Worse, Alistair was half-naked.

"Oh, my God," I muttered.

"Isla, who the hell is this?" Everett asked, shoving Alistair more firmly against the wall.

"Who the hell are you?" Alistair shot back.

Everett's eyes snapped to his and Alistair shrunk back, his mouth slamming shut. Behind me, a door creaked open, and I spun to find River walking out of his room, tugging a shirt on.

He rubbed his eyes, half-yawning as he asked, "What the hell is going on?"

"Yeah, River, what the hell is going on?" I echoed, lifting a brow at him. I was steaming. My head was pounding, and blood was rushing through my body and he had the nerve to yawn?

Everett was here. Here, in the flesh, standing right in front of me. Except, instead of running to hug me, he was pinning River's fling against a wall, threatening to punch him through it.

This was all River's fault.

He froze, his hand dropping to his side and eyes settling on the scene before us. Everett glared at him, his arm still pressing Alistair up against the wall. Alistair looked like he was deciding between crying and laughing, his eyes wide and lips twitching in an uncertain smile.

"Oh, this is great," River said. He'd decided—his lips were wide, and he was chuckling lowly. He stepped closer, throwing an arm around my shoulders, and watching on cheerfully. "Please, continue. Pretend we're not here."

"River," I groaned, nudging him hard in the ribs with my elbow.

He winced but kept his arm firm around me. He flashed a smile at me. "Come on, Isla. This is the most entertainment I've had all week."

"You had a party last night."

"And me," Alistair chimed in.

River hummed. "Close second, I guess."

"Does anyone want to explain what the hell is happening here?" Everett shouted. He lifted his fist higher, ready to drive it into Alistair's cheek.

I leapt forward, grabbing Everett's arm. For a moment, all I could think was he's here. He's really here. I could hold him. I could grab him.

His secret—I'd been worried for nothing. Everett had always been mine.

But then, I saw the anger in his eyes and snapped back to the present.

"This is Alistair," I said, slowly pulling his arm to lower it. "He's here with River, not me. Right, River?"

We both turned to look at him and he shrugged.

"No comment," River said, a shit-eating grin on his face.

I rolled my eyes, tightening my hold around Everett's arm. "He's with River. Not me. River."

"River?" Everett echoed. He turned, his eyes roaming over Alistair's bare chest, the hickeys that covered his neck and collarbones, then River's bruised skin. He blinked hard.

He turned to me, eyes falling over my neck, my jaw, taking in the unscathed skin. I smiled gently, nodding and he loosened a hard breath.

His grip must have loosened on Alistair because he scuttered out from beneath his arm and practically sprinted to River's side.

"River," Alistair confirmed.

Everett blinked again, his arms falling. Then, he shook his head and released a dry laugh.

"I totally misread you, man," he said. He rubbed a hand over his face. "I thought—I mean, I was jealous when Isla said she was moving in with you."

River shrugged. "I get it. I'm irresistible."

"Oh, shut up, River," I said, waving a hand at him before turning towards Everett. My hands moved to his shoulders, then his arms, his chest, his jaw. I shook my head, feeling tears burn behind my eyes.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

Behind me, I could hear River's footsteps and the creak of his door, signalling that he'd left. Everett's eyes flickered, waiting for them to retreat before replying.

"I'm on break, remember?" he answered, turning completely to me. His hands clasped over my own before sliding down my arms to my waist. He lifted me, pushing me against the wall, lips splitting in a grin. "You sounded stressed from college. I thought I'd surprise you. Wasn't expecting... all that."

I laughed, tears finally slipping from my eyes. He wiped at my cheek.

"Why are you crying?" he asked.

"I just missed you so much." My hands moved from the back of his neck to his hair, my fingers pulling at the strands before drifting over his jaw and his cheeks. I traced the freckled skin of his nose. "I need to take all of this in. I just—You wouldn't tell me what was happening, and I knew you were lying about that stupid finance class, and—"

The words died in my throat, and I shook my head.

"You're actually here," I added finally.

His hair had darkened back to its natural dark brown without the harsh Australian sun to lighten it, but his freckles remained. They were faded, and there were less than usual, but they reminded me of the Everett I knew—the Everett who belonged here, with me.

I leaned forward, kissing a freckle beneath his eye and his smile softened. He leaned closer, his lips hovering over mine before I turned my head, his lips colliding against my cheek.

"What's wrong?" he asked, frowning.

I wrinkled my nose. "As much as I want to kiss you Ev, I'm hungover and probably have some killer morning breath right now."

Everett lifted a brow at me. "Hungover? I thought you were studying last night."

"I was, until you decided to hop on a plane without telling me. You're a bad liar, Ev. I was worried all night for nothing," I chided.

He laughed, his face reddening in the way that I loved. "No more bad lies and surprises. We both saw how well that one went."

I snorted, remembering the sheer fear that had taken over Alistair's usually timid face.

"Don't let that stop you from visiting as often as possible, though," I added.

"Never."

He leaned in again and I turned my head, letting his lips hit my cheek. He turned back to me with a pout, and I lifted a mocking brow.

"You're not going to trick me that easily."

"Well, I've been on a plane for about twenty-three hours, so—" he leaned forward, pressing a quick peck to my lips before smiling cheekily at me—"I guess we could both use some freshening up."

"Let's go to my room," I said. "It's a mess out here, and you have to tell me everything about New York."

He looked around the destroyed living room. It was still a mess after River's party, with furniture flipped and trash scattered around the floor, but at least there were no stragglers sleeping against walls this time.

The counter was covered in empty glass bottles and knocked over plastic cups. I grimaced, the memory of the taste of alcohol still fresh in my mind from last night. It had turned out to be as miserable as if I'd just continued with my statistics studies.

River was preoccupied all night and I didn't know anyone else at the party, so I'd spent most of the time drinking in the corner, my mind wandering to all the things Everett could've been doing that required him to lie to my face.

Him boarding a plane to Sydney was the last thing I would've thought of.

Everett nodded and slowly dropped my legs back to the floor. He reached down, throwing his duffel bag over his shoulder. I hadn't even realised it was there. I was too preoccupied with Everett, Everett, Everett.

Grabbing his hand, I led him to my room. I was suddenly grateful that I'd left some painkillers and a water bottle on my bedside table. Drunk Isla was kind to sober Isla. Besides, I didn't want to let Everett go for one moment in fear of him vanishing again. Leaving me.

My mind was already beginning to race with the things we could do now that he was here in person. Maybe I could give him a tour of my university. I'd always been jealous of the couples that passed, holding hands on their way to lectures. Maybe we could pretend. Just for a few weeks.

By the time we'd both freshened up and I'd popped two pills in my mouth, draining a whole water bottle to wash it down, the tension between us had grown palpable. I thought I might die if I didn't kiss him soon—or at least feel his arms around me.

Closing the door behind him, Everett emerged from the ensuite looking a lot more awake than he did before. We sat on my bed, him with his legs dangling off the edge, and me cross-legged beside him.

He stared at me as I settled on the edge of the mattress and I laughed, pushing my hair back self-consciously.

"What?" I asked.

He smiled gently, reaching out to take my face in his hands. "Nothing. I just want to keep staring at you."

I smiled back, leaning my face against his palms. He moved them forward, pushing my hair back.

"It's longer," he said simply. He took a curl between two fingers and tugged on it, watching as it sprung back up. "Still as wild."

I laughed, crawling towards him until I was straddling his lap. I buried my face in his neck and his arms came to wrap around my waist, tugging me closer and closer until his chin rested on my shoulder. Our chests pressed against each other, and I breathed him in.

This was my Everett. He'd finally come back to me.

"How long are you staying?" I asked. Before he could answer, another dozen questions popped into my brain. "Are you going to stay here? How were your final exams? Did you pass them all? What subjects are you taking next—"

"Isla," he said. "One at a time. And then it's my turn to ask."

I pulled back, smiling coyly at him. "Sorry. I'm just so excited."

"I am too," he said. His voice had turned low, quiet—almost husky. "I haven't seen you in so long. There are so many things I want to do."

"Oh?" I lifted a brow at him, my lips twitching. "Like what?"

"Like..." His hands slipped lower until they grabbed my bum. He pulled me higher on his lap. He wore sweatpants beneath me, and I inhaled sharply at the feeling of him under me. "This."

And midway through my gasp, he kissed me.

He kissed me hard, pulling me tight against him. My mouth was partially open, and he slipped his tongue inside, his hands gripping frantically at me. I arched into him, my hands moving into his hair and tugging, pulling.

And then he was moving down my jaw and across my neck, leaving kisses as he swept towards my collarbone.

"You taste the same," he muttered against my skin, teeth grazing the spot his lips had claimed.

I released a breathy laugh. "What did you expect?"

He paused, moving back to meet my eye. His gaze had darkened, his pupils blowing wide as he looked at me, his jaw setting. Suddenly, he flipped us, pushing me into the mattress and hovering over me. His legs pinned me on either side of my hips, my hands dipping into the mattress beside my head.

"What were we talking about a minute ago?" he asked.

I blinked, not expecting that question. My mind drew up blank. All I could think of was Everett's body over mine, his lips just centimetres away.

"I don't remember," I said.

He dipped his head lower, his mouth hovering over my neck, his breath hot against my skin. "Yes, you do. What was it, Isla?"

My head spun. All I could think was Everett, Everett, Everett.

"I..." my voice died in my throat. I blinked hard and tried again. "What we want to do while you're here?"

"Good girl," he murmured, his lips finally pressing against my neck.

His hands moved to grip the hem of my shirt, his fingers grazing the skin of my waist. "Tell me, what do you want us to do together?"

I hummed teasingly, as if my heart was not pounding out of my chest and my breathing had grown ten times heavier. "I don't know. See the Harbour Bridge?"

He smiled against my skin, his hands beginning to travel higher. My shirt rode up as he hands drifted over my stomach, leaving butterflies and a trail of heat where he touched. His fingers reached just beneath my breasts, and he flattened his hands there, waiting.

"What else?" he asked, playing along.

"I don't know, maybe the Opera House too?" I said, attempting to keep my voice steady. His fingers crept higher. "We could go to the zoo."

He hummed, the sound causing his lips to vibrate against my skin. His hands had covered my breasts now and his lips worked their way up to my jawline. My chest rose and fell heavily, the feeling of his calloused fingers over my skin causing my stomach to stir—releasing a fire in my veins.

"Everett," I whispered. My hands drifted to the band of his pants. He released me with one hand, moving to grab my wrists and stop me.

Pulling away for a moment, he held both my wrists with one hand and pinned them above my head. He looked down at me, lifting a brow.

"Not so fast," he said, smirking. "I haven't seen you in months. I'm going to savour this."

"Ev," I muttered again. I arched towards him, and he breathed sharply.

"What is it?" he asked. "Tell me what you want."

I rolled my eyes. "You know what I want."

His lips twitched. "All you've mentioned is the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, the—"

"Ev!" I hissed. "Just—I just—Please."

He stared at me for a moment, satisfied with my answer, before his eyes began to slowly drift down, over my body.

With one hand, he tugged my shirt up, revealing my entire chest. I'd been sleeping before he arrived and hadn't worn a bra. My face felt hot, and I turned away, embarrassed to see his reaction, but he didn't notice.

His head bowed and he began tracing a hot trail with his mouth over my breast, then down, down, over my stomach, before pausing at the band of my shorts. He pressed a kiss there.

"I'm going to murder you," I said simply.

"That's not very polite, Isla," he replied. He tugged at the waistband, and I arched into his touch.

Immediately, he pulled away.

"Patience is a virtue."

I scowled. "I've been patient for months."

"So, what's five more minutes?"

"Minutes?"

He laughed, his fingers slipping beneath the waistband and sliding across my stomach, from one hip to another. I groaned, turning my head.

"Everett," I whined.

"Hush," he said. "Or River will hear us. Unless you're into that."

"Oh, shut up."

"If you insist," he said, and planted his lips back onto my skin. He kissed his way downward, tugging the waistband as he moved before slipping my shorts and underwear off completely.

His fingers continued to drift when I finally found my voice and muttered, "Wait."

He paused immediately, his hands leaving me and eyes finding my own. For all his arrogance, his face had turned pink too, and now that I'd told him to wait, he looked entirely flustered.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

I leaned up, tugging on the collar of his t-shirt. "You're too dressed."

He cracked a slanted smile at me before reaching over his neck and pulling it off in one go. I traced my hands down his chest. He'd gotten more fit since I'd last seen him, but he was paler too.

He was different.

Somewhere between summer and now, he'd changed without me. If this was just his appearance, how much of him had really changed? I paused at his hips and looked up to meet his eyes.

He smiled at me—his usual Everett smile—and my heart melted. It couldn't have been that much. We were still Isla and Everett, Everett and Isla. This was where we were meant to be. Not Shellside Bay—not even Sydney or New York—but together.

And now we finally were.

For a limited time.

I pulled at his waistband, and he shifted, kicking his pants and underwear off. My hands drifted lower, fingers hovering teasingly, and Everett groaned.

I grinned, mocking him. "Tell me what you want."

His eyes snapped open.

"All I want is you," he murmured.

He leaned forward, pulling me into a kiss, skin against skin, body against body on the mattress of my bed. His hand moved between my legs, and I moaned into the kiss, all the oxygen in my body, all my thoughts, all my everything vanished—and it was just Everett.

His thumb found the spot I needed him most and with a flick, I was practically undone. He was moving slowly, teasing me, savouring as he'd said he would. And I was bursting at the seams, falling apart with every touch, kiss, sigh, breath—with all of him.

I bucked my hips towards him, and he laughed, pressing light kisses to my jaw. "Patience."

"Fuck patience," I groaned, my voice faltering with every stroke. My eyes squinted open, and he looked down on me, one hand on himself, the other on me. I whimpered, grabbing his hand and tugging him closer. "Please."

"Please, what?"

"Please, before I murder you," I managed between clenched teeth.

He laughed but complied anyway. His fingers ventured lower over my core, and with a sharp inhale, he slid them into me. I groaned again, louder this time, and he swallowed it with a hard kiss.

"River will hear you," he murmured against my mouth.

"I don't care," I said.

"You will when he evicts you."

I slammed a hand against my mouth, muffling another groan as Everett began to pick up speed. My head lolled back, and I arched my chest towards him.

"I didn't even ask how you are," I muttered, my voice sounding distant and faraway to my own ears.

"Plenty of time for that later," he replied with a strained chuckle. His fingers left me, his hands planting on my hips as he dragged me closer. "After the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, the zoo..."

"Oh, shut up and kiss me."

He did.

And we swallowed each other into the night, skin on skin, lips on lips, until I had come completely undone, until I was bursting at the seams, and until our limited time together was nothing but a distant memory.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

Thank you for reading as always! This chapter was very different from my usual but I hope you liked it!

Also I just watched Stranger Things and I am very speechless, editing this chapter was a challenge lmao apologies for any missed errors!

Next time: Isla and Everett hang out